Costco shoppers want ‘Americans only’ hours

Shopping and waiting … and waiting .. at Costco. (Photo is from a Miami Costco, by Creative Commons Flickr user miamism).

If you’ve ever shopped at Costco on a weekend, you know it’s like an endurance sport, with tough parking, packed crowds and competitive lines for those mini-sausage samples.

But Costco shoppers in Bellingham, Wash. have an additional challenge: Canadians. It seems that the store, 90 miles north of Seattle and near the border, attracts flocks of Canadians in search for cheaper American milk and gas. And that’s making some locals grouchy.

A Facebook page has emerged to vent the grumpiness, called “Bellingham Costco needs a special time just for Americans.” With more than 4,200 likes so far, it features rants about crowds, parking and rude Canadians who buy up all the milk (by the double-gallon) and take forever in the gas line (with their extra gas cans). There’s at least one photo of a bad British Columbian park job that committed the sin of hogging up two spaces.

“Costco should make a special time during the day that is American members only,” wrote the page’s administrator, who described local Costco shoppers as “Founding customers.”

“They used to do it for Business members, why cant they do it for us.”

But not everyone is complaining about the “mob show” at the Bellingham Costco. One Facebook poster called the comments “discrimination” and wrote, “I say to Canadians boycott, and watch how fast your city begs for Canadians to return.”

Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville also continued to welcome Canadians. “The unpleasant comments we’ve seen on social media regarding Canadians are offensive and inappropriate,” Linville said Monday.

The Facebook page creator wrote that the problem isn’t Canadians personally, but the need for a larger store. That may not happen any time soon. An executive with Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco told CBC News the company wants to expand, but there’s no room on the current property.

Also, don’t expect any special U.S.-only shopping hours. Costco said it’s planning to continue its policy of letting Costco members shop in any Costco they choose.

How does Costco do it? It has 600 stores, $93 billion in annual sales and millions of loyal customers, despite no advertising and charging customers a fee to shop.

How does Costco do it? It has 600 stores, $93 billion in annual sales and millions of loyal customers, despite no advertising and charging customers a fee to shop.

Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Image 2 of 16

About 3 million people shop at Costco a day, where the merchandise changes frequently and aisles are purposely unlabelled. (So it feels more like a treasure hunt?)

About 3 million people shop at Costco a day, where the merchandise changes frequently and aisles are purposely unlabelled. (So it feels more like a treasure hunt?)

Photo: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

Image 3 of 16

On top of looking at the “Costco craze,” CNBC delves into the “Costco effect,” otherwise known as the “routine tendency” to spend more than you had wanted.

On top of looking at the “Costco craze,” CNBC delves into the “Costco effect,” otherwise known as the “routine tendency” to spend more than you had wanted.

Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Image 4 of 16

Ready for 'Kirkland Signature' vodka? In June, Costco started selling spirits in Washington state, after voters approved a measure to privatize the booze business. Costco poured a record-setting $22 million into the initiative. Photo: Costco. less

Ready for 'Kirkland Signature' vodka? In June, Costco started selling spirits in Washington state, after voters approved a measure to privatize the booze business. Costco poured a record-setting $22 million ... more

Image 5 of 16

Costco is a big player in the wine industry, selling more than a $1 billion a year in wine, more than any other retailer in the world. Wines include global labels and Costco’s “Kirkland Signature” brand.

Costco is a big player in the wine industry, selling more than a $1 billion a year in wine, more than any other retailer in the world. Wines include global labels and Costco’s “Kirkland Signature” brand.

Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP/Getty Images

Image 6 of 16

Costco’s No.1 selling product is, you guess it, toilet paper. The company sells more than a billion rolls a year. That's $4 billion in toilet paper and enough rolls to wrap around the earth 1,200 times, says CNBC. less

Costco’s No.1 selling product is, you guess it, toilet paper. The company sells more than a billion rolls a year. That's $4 billion in toilet paper and enough rolls to wrap around the earth 1,200 times, says ... more

Photo: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

Image 7 of 16

Ever wonder how Costco decides what to sell? CNBC goes inside Costco’s lab to film workers testing stuff like chocolate and toilet paper. (Don’t worry, no one’s in the bathroom). “Feel it, and crunch it like this,” one worker says of toilet paper. “Can you feel the difference?” less

Ever wonder how Costco decides what to sell? CNBC goes inside Costco’s lab to film workers testing stuff like chocolate and toilet paper. (Don’t worry, no one’s in the bathroom). “Feel it, and crunch ... more

Photo: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

Image 8 of 16

Costco sells $4 billion in produce a year, and ...

Costco sells $4 billion in produce a year, and ...

Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP/Getty Images

Image 9 of 16

55 million rotisserie chickens and ...

55 million rotisserie chickens and ...

Photo: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

Image 10 of 16

2.6 billion gallons of gas and …

2.6 billion gallons of gas and …

Photo: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

Image 11 of 16

nearly $2 billion in TVs and …

nearly $2 billion in TVs and …

Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Image 12 of 16

... about $200 million in toys. CNBC follows Costco’s toy-buying team as it narrows down more than a thousand toys to just a handful to sell. Sounds kinda stressful.

... about $200 million in toys. CNBC follows Costco’s toy-buying team as it narrows down more than a thousand toys to just a handful to sell. Sounds kinda stressful.

Photo: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

Image 13 of 16

Despite never marking up products by more than 15 percent, Costco has become one of the country’s top three retailers and the world’s largest membership warehouse chain.

Despite never marking up products by more than 15 percent, Costco has become one of the country’s top three retailers and the world’s largest membership warehouse chain.